Remember Three Dog Night? They weren’t a band I ever saw in concert, back in my days when big, noisy crowded venues weren’t as off-putting to me as they are now. Perhaps I was remiss, as I had a couple of opportunities to see them, but back in the day, they weren’t really up there on my priority list. I liked them enough to buy their albums, and I probably still have those LP records in a box around here someplace, along with everything from George Jones to Led Zeppelin.
As I’m growing older and more nostalgic, I’m kind of regretting that. Three Dog Night was a great band, with a unique sound, and they produced some great tunes. Here, in no particular order, are six great Three Dog Night tunes that I remember fondly. They’re still touring, even at their age, but they aren’t coming to Alaska, it seems. Too bad.
And of course, we all remember the (apocryphal) story behind the band’s name, wherein in olden times, on cold nights, one would invite critters to share the bed for warmth, and on cold nights indeed, one would resort to not one, not two, but three dogs – making it a three-dog night.
Joy To The World. This may be the Three Dog Night tune everyone remembers best. Who doesn’t perk up at those irreplaceable opening lyrics?
Jeremiah was a bullfrog.
Was a good friend of mine.
I never understood a single word he said,
But I helped him a-drink his wine.
And he always had some mighty fine wine!
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Mama Told Me (Not To Come.) We’ve all had some crazy weekends, some when it would have been better to listen to our mothers. I remember moving into a small apartment above a bar when I was 20 years old. My first wife and I had one of four apartments above the bar, and two of my married buddies had two of the other three. My Mom asked me, “Won’t it be noisy?” I said, “Yeah, but I don’t think the bar will mind.”
Never Been to Spain. I’ve never been to Spain, either; a refueling stop on the way to Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm doesn’t count, as we weren’t allowed to get off the plane. But Spain’s still on my bucket list of places I’d like to see, even if as an old married guy, I have only an academic interest in knowing if the ladies there do indeed know how to use it.
An Old-Fashioned Love Song.
Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned love song? This was one we used to sing (badly) to girlfriends, or even prospective girlfriends. Sometimes it even worked, with lines like these:
Just an old-fashioned love song,
Comin' down in three-part harmony.
Just an old-fashioned love song,
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me.
See Related: Start Your Weekend Right With Five Great Fun Rock Tunes From the Early Seventies
I Can Hear You Calling. An early tune from 1971, this is a snappy tune, with great group vocals, some neat guitar work, and a great bass line. A mainstream tune, not one of their best-known, but a fun one that gets one’s toes tapping.
One Man Band. An even earlier song, from 1970, but another fun one. Great vocals from Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells. Not a long tune at 2:52, but one that makes you want to call out, “Baby, let me be your one-man band!”
If you’re graying – or grayed – like me, or if you just have an appreciation for the tuneage of the late ‘60s and ‘70s, you’ll probably have a few Three Dog Night favorites of your own. So, let us know – the comments, as always, are yours.
